Gettysburg Daily

Power Washing at the Peach Orchard

June 12, 2008

National Park Service seasonal maintenance employee Glenn Berkheiser power washes the monument to the 68th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (Scott’s Legion) along the Wheatfield Road at Sherfy’s Peach Orchard. This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Not only have the seasonal National Park Service Rangers/Interpreters appeared this summer, the seasonal National Park Service maintenance employees have also made their appearance at Gettysburg National Military Park. They perform a host of duties, most of which are conducted outside, including grass cutting. Two seasonals, Tom Schriver, and Glenn Berkheiser, are the only two individuals on the park staff whose job it is to power wash the monuments. The Gettysburg Daily caught up with them at the Peach Orchard on Thursday afternoon.

There are over 1300 monuments, markers and plaques at the Gettysburg National Military Park, and the goal is to power wash each of them at least once every four years. Part of the Joseph Sherfy barn is visible in the far right of this picture. The Alexander Spangler Barn is visible in the distance between the monument and the Sherfy Barn. This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

This operation consists of the lift on the left, and the pickup truck pulling the water tank on the right. The Alexander Spangler Barn is to the left of the monument, and the Joseph Sherfy Barn is to the right of the monument. The Klingle Farm is visible to the far right in this photograph. This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Tom Schriver monitors events at the pickup truck while Glenn Berkheiser cleans the monument. The Wheatfield Road is to the left. Not only do they power wash a monument, they also place wax on the bronze parts of the monuments for extra protection. This view was taken from the east facing west at approximately 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Tom and Glenn started in mid April and will work until nearly the end of September. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

A monument the size of the 68th Pennsylvania will take approximately four to five hours. Cemetery Ridge is in the distance where the fields meet the wood line. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

To clean a monument the size of the 68th Pennsylvania, Tom and Glenn will use around 400 gallons of water. The Wheatfield Road is on the right. The monument to the right of the 68th Pennsylvania is the 141st Pennsylvania. Little Round Top is in the distance behind the 68th Pennsylvania. Part of Big Round Top is visible on the far right. This view was taken from the northwest facing southeast at approximately 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2008.